HEAD NORTH YOUNG MAN! Niagara River Fishing Action is GOOD, Smaller Tribs are Frozen-Up

John Jarosz of Lakeview with a steelhead he caught in Devil’s Hole while fishing with Capt. Ryan Shea with Brookdog Fishing Company.

After another round of windstorms, it looks like things are going to take off again in the river in a good way.

There was plenty of fish around the last time the water was decent, especially in the lower Niagara River – steelhead and walleye, with an occasional lake trout and brown trout. Egg sacs in pink or chartreuse, Kwikfish or MagLips for plugs, minnows for live bait – all fished off 3-way rigs.

Shore casters should be starting to pick up steelies with spinners, jigs, flies, and sacs. The water along the shoreline should offer anglers clearer opportunities a bit quicker.

Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls with a nice steelhead he caught in the lower Niagara River while fishing from shore with a spinner.

With favorable weather Thursday and Friday, that will be your best bet until the weekend. Next week looks pretty good, too.

Upper river options should also include some trout including lake trout, and walleyes.

Richard Pisa of Tonawanda with a lower Niagara River steelhead caught last week.

The Niagara River Anglers Association will be holding its Roger Tobey Memorial Steelhead Contest on Saturday, Feb. 22. This date has been moved from its traditional time slot, set for the lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario tributaries starting at sunrise. Cost is $20 for the contest plus an option $5 for the best brown trout. In addition, you must be a member of the NRAA. Membership cost is $20, a $5 savings from the normal membership cost.

In the tributaries of Lake Ontario, the conditions right now offer medium flows and about 2 feet of visibility. There are reports of steelhead hookups, a few each outing by good drifters or swingers. Some hens are already showing loose eggs.

Smaller tributaries are challenging with the cold weather. Things are slushing and icing up. The next forecasted warmup will only give us more of the same with conditions and fish.

Roy Letcher of Newfane reports that 18 Mile Creek is running well right now with a fair number of trout. Everything else is mainly frozen.

Scott Feltrinelli with Ontario Fly Outfitters reports that many of the smaller streams are frozen-up right now.

We have some warmer weather coming to us bt the end of the week and that could open some areas. Later in the day, it might be better.

Jajean Rose with the WNY Land Conservancy caught his first steelhead in the lower Niagara River last week fishing with Capt. Ryan Shea of Brookdog Fishing Company.